Well,
Very light winds during the whole event, with formula being the best option. However in the final, it rose up to 18k, with Schurman swaping from formula to slalom kit in the last minute... The final results were:
1º - Slalom kit (Lang)
2º - Slalom kit (Schurman)
3º - Formula Experience kit (Neves)
4º - Formula kit (Tomas)

Still my bet is that if it was 15k steady, with 2 sailors same level, the formula wins. Just a guess though.

Abraço e bons ventos

12th January 2009 01:48 AM

COACHG

This is a tough one. In 15 knt winds I hit faster max speeds on my big slalom gear then I do with my formula gear using the same 9.8 sail. In the big gusts, to maintain control, the slalom board accelerates where the formula board points up or down wind. Also, I know you loose more speed over distance in lulls then you gain in gusts. So over a 500 meter beam reach course with 15 knt averages it would be very close. The more lulls, the lower the lulls, the bigger the advantage to the formula I think. The more gust, the bigger the gusts, the more advantage to the slalom board.

11th January 2009 02:23 PM

pfaffi

2 years ago we had same situation.
Bjorn was on a 80cm SL 9,8sqm and a 48fin.
My friends and me was on Formula with 11 sqm.
Finally I would say over 500m average the F will win. Maybe topspeed by SL. But all very closed in 15kn.
But:!!!!! If you go trough gates you can influence the result by choosing the wind angle.
My bet is only valid for free course for everybody.
pfaffi

11th January 2009 03:19 AM

Per

15 knots is not marginal winds. A big slalom board will be well powered with a 9.8 sail, with its smaller wetted surface and fin it should be quickest when the course isn't very high or deep. You only need 100 cm width and 70 cm fins for pointing or planing in the marginal stuff. And yes I agree with #11, if the big slalom boards aren't the fastest boards in 15 knots, what's the point in having them? Thats the theory, reality will show. Very interesting topic..
;-)
Per

10th January 2009 09:22 PM

Unregistered

Whats the wind angle likely to be ?

If big Slalom isn't faster reaching in 15 knots then it they have a very small window of superiority before mid size slalom takes over ?

9th January 2009 11:44 PM

gre-969

Untill max. 15k. Formula with 85 kg sailor 11m sail , fin 66-68cm and no rake (I am 90% sure) will win the speed contest.
But over 15 k. there is no chance for Formula to beat the bigger slalom boards, that is my experience at the greek slalom blaster we race in Greece where all the categories of Windsurf are racing together.

9th January 2009 11:39 PM

carlosgp5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

My bet is that with steady 15 knots on flat water a light guy on a slalom equipment should be the fastest over 500m. Is Schurmann participating?

Schurmann won the last year´s , Im not sure about the gear as i could not go, but he probably is gonna be there this one also

9th January 2009 11:10 PM

Unregistered

100kg+ formula guy will win. If the water is flat...

9th January 2009 10:57 PM

nonopr

Me. always.

9th January 2009 10:34 PM

Ken

I would bet on a large slalom board too, something well balanced with a 9-10 m sail.

For a formula board to be faster on a beam reach, the wind would have to be pretty light, probably 10 knots or less.

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